Pavement joint protector or traffic marker



Aug. 30, 1932. C, OLDER 1,874,590

PAVEMENT JOINT PROTECTOR OR TRAFFIC MARKER Filed June 7. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l f! 1i /7%/ f '.20, d# mw n Aug. 30, 1932. Q OLDER 1,874,590

PAVEMENT JOINT PROTECTOR 0R TRAFFIC MARKER Filed June 7, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @a l /5 l I ,59% f W1 Q 4W/Q CLFFQRD (BILDER, 0F

WILMETTE, ILLINGS PVEMNT JO'INT PBGTECTOR 0R TRAFFIC MARKER Application filed June 7,

The present invention relates to pavement joint protectors, and is particularly conf cerned With joint'protecting devices which may also be used, if desired, for traiiic niarkers.

ln the construction of concrete pavements or the like, it is a common practice to separate the pavement into longitudinal strips or sections for the purpose or preventing the unsightly longitudinally extending cracks which inevitably appear when the pavement is laid in unbroken Widths of more than ten or twelve feet. p

rEhe adjacent sections of concrete are tied together by embedding steel reinforcement in the concrete and the joints or cracks formed between adjacent sections of pavement are ordinarily filled with bituminous material such as asphalt or tar for the purpose of preventing the entry of Water and dirt into the .joints and to protect the edges of the concrete as much as possible.

The concrete pavements of the prior art l have many disadvantages for the following reasons. ,lt is practically impossibleto provide aplastic filler such as tar or asphalt,

.which is sufficiently plastic and ductile so that it will not crack and allow dirt to enterthe joint at any temperature and' yet be stid enough to prevent the admixture of roadway dirt, sand grains,l etc. lFurthermore, the plastic material is forced out of the crack or joint by the heavy compression when the top surface of the pavement expands, and the constant necessity ot reneningthe filler from time to time as the tramo Wears it away, involves much expense. The .use of plastic iller `:for closing joints andl protecting the edges is'therefore very unsatisfactory.

The ordinary concretepavement joints of the prior art are also'unsatistactory on account of the destructive results of unequal expansion and contraction ofthe upper and lotver portions of the concrete pavement.

Assuming that the concrete pavement has been warmed by long exposure to the sun, as

might be the case on any relatively Warm day, when the temperature falls at night, the top surface of the concrete will cool lirst and contract more than the bottom surface. i'il'his 15529. Serial No. 369,021.

'causes annpward .warping of the edges of l the concrete adjacent to the crack or joint, and, of course, adjacent any other edee or corner, and the reinforcing tie bars will be stretched, probably Within their elastic limit, but the tie bars may slip or even partially fail by the tension if the cross section of steel is not properly proportioned to that of the concrete.

The concrete near the bottom of the slab may then yield slightly, but' the upward warping of the edges of the concreteseetions causes the edges of the concrete to be crushed at the bottom of the pavement between the sections. n A

At the same time the crackis considerably widened at its. top due to the warping of the concrete sections and the unequal contraction at the top surface so that While the pavement 'is in this condition, dirt or soil may readily `enter the top of the crack and become more or less packed therein by trallic.

Assuming that the concrete pavement is relatively cool as it would be in the niorning, when the temperature of the air quickly rises above that of the body of the oncrete, and the top of the concrete is in addition heated by the direct rays of `the sun, to a temperature higher than that ofthe bottom surface, a reverse action of unequal expansion takes place. That is, the top surface expands at a greater rate than the lov/- er surface and the top edges come together or in contact with the incompressible dirt or sand particles that have found their way into the crack or joint, and the pressure aty the top edge is sulircient to cause the top edges to crush, chip or spall, and this destructive action continuing from dav to day and combined n'ith that of traf'tic, soon causes the edges of the concrete sections to become several views.

of concrete and which is also capable of overlying and protecting the adjacent edges of the concrete sections.

Another obj ect of the invention is.tl1 e provision of a concrete pavement joint protector which vis also capable of use as a traffic marker, and which is capable of long service without any substantial expense in maintenance or repair.

Another object is the provision of a concrete joint protector which is cheaply manufactured and economically installed, and which is capable of being kept in good condition by the effect of the trafiic itself.

Another object is the provision of a traflic marker which is capable of.use for marking traflic lines for either automobiles or for pedestrians, and which provides a contrast- 1ng appearance which is plainly visible und'er any light or weather conditions.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved concrete pavement'4 joint including a pavement joint protector and traffic marker, and an improved form of aligning means for preventing settling of one concrete section relative to another.'

Other objects and advantages of the in'- vention will be apparent from the following description and from. the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the Referring to the drawings, of which there are two sheets;

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a joint protector or Atrafiic marker constructed according to the pavement joint constructed according to the present invention, in which the crack is prouced by the use of a trowel or other tool;

Fig. 4 is a similar view of a modified joint construction in which a simple division plate is used for producing a plane of weakness whichwill form the crack desired; 1

Fig. 5 isa similar View of a modified joint construction using a division plate which is provided with a dowelingmeans;

Fig. 6 is a similar View of a'P modified form A,nl of pavement joint having a different form of parting strip Fi 7 's a similar view of a modified form' of joint having a/ different parting strip;

Fig. 8 is a similar view of another modification having a lparting strip which is procrack 14 which is adapted to be protected by the concrete joint protector indicated in its entirety at 15. The cracln 14 may, of

course, extend longitudinally of the paveof concrete where it is only esired to protect the edges of the concrete and there is no necessity for traffic markin The ljoint protector 1'5 preferably comprises an elongated sheet metal member which 1s formed with aflexible portion16 which is adapted to give to permit expansion or contraction of the adjacent sections of concrete 10 and 11r and the flexible portion 16 may comprise a longitudinally extending rib of substantially V-shape, forming a groove tapering in width from the ,to of the groove to the bottom of the V. he rib 16 may in 'some embodiments of the invention be made thinner than the ad'acent portions of the joints protector in or er to increase the flexibility and the rib is preferably provided with rounded corners or bends in order to 'eliminate any possibility of breaking of the metal. r

- The'joint protector 15 is preferably made of sufficient width to overlap or overlie severalj inches of the concrete sections 10 and 11 on each side of the crack 14 so that any pressure which is brought to bear on the joint protector 15 is distributed overa considerable area of concrete, and there is no ossibility f the concrete immediately adjacent the crack 14 becoming exposed, evenif its edges should become chipped, which is not likely in view of the protection rovided.

The rounded upper corners o the concrete sections 10 anl 11 formed bythe V-shaped rib 16 also tends to prevent any chipping of the upper Ycorners when the concrete expands lor contracts.

The joint protector 15 preferably formed with downwardly turned flanges 17 at the outer edges of the" joint protector, the flanges 17 being curved downward into the concrete to positively prevent the formation of any ragged metaledges which mightl injure tires or which might s ring up and down under the traffic. The ownwardly turned curved flanges 17 also aid in anchorin vthe joint protectorv in place, and these anges may be considered as anchoring formations in certain ofthe embodiments of my invention.

Thefjoint protector 15 is also preferably provided with a plurality of. anchorin `formations 18 fo the purpose of positive? choring the me al plate in both concrete sections, and the anchoring formations 18 may take any of a plurality ofdifferent forms.

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reverso The formations 18 are preferably so shaped that the embedded portions 19 are of greater l desire it to be understood' that the anchoring formations 13 may be madeolt any ornamental or desirable appearance, such as tongues or tapering Width, curved strips, etc,

ln order tosave material and to provide means for determining when the joint protitl tector hasl been properly placed in the concrete, l prefer to vtorni the anchoring formations by punching the same out of an integral part of the body of the plate 15, leaving apertures 19 of a shape complementary to the anchoring formations 18, and the apertures 19 permit the pavement to be visible through the concrete plat-e 15 so that the plate may be pushed down into proper position after the concrete has been finished. The apertures 19 also permit the ready escape of air which might otherwise be trapped, and provide a ready means of visually determining that the under surface ci the joint protector is in contact With the upper surface ot the concrete. r

.els previously stated, the pavement is preferably substantially iinished before the joint protector is putin place and the cracks 141 may be formed in anyof a plurality of dierent Ways.

Referring to Fig. 3, the crack 1l has been `omned in this embodiment by cutting the concrete longitudinally `with a trovvel or other suitable means,-thereby'providing an opening orp appreciable Width. rl`he adjacent sections 10 and 11 in this embodiment are tied together by a stirrup shaped tie member 20, comprising a rod bent to snbstantially U- shape, driven into the soil and covered with concrete.

1,. Referring to l? ig. e, the cract7 141 in this embodiment has been formed by the use of a parting strip 21 comprising an elongated strip of sheet metal having slots or apertures 22 tor receiving the stirrup or tie bar 20. The

crack 14 is formed when the concrete sections 10 and llcontract, due to the plane of weakness termed by the parting strip 21.

Referring to liga 5, the. joint protector is here illustrated in conjunction `With a parting strip 23 comprising a sheetmetal member having a longitudinally extending rib 24: for forming an aligning projection/25 upon the concrete section 11 und a complementary recess 26 upon the concrete section 10. The

l parting strip 23 may be secured in place by CJ pegs or lsticks 2T driven through the rib 2l and the sections may be tied together by the stirrups 20 passing through apertures or slots in the parting strip 23.

Referring to Fig. 6, the parting strip of this embodiment comprises an elongated strip of sheet metal 28 having a. laterally bent flange 29 at its upper edge for engagement and definitely locating the joint protector 15 at the point at which the crack will be formed. The parting strip 28 may-be supported upon the stirrups 20 and may be put in place during the pouring of the concrete.

Referring to F ig. 7, the parting strip 30 of this embodiment is provided with a laterally projecting flange 31 for locating the joint protector 15 and with a longitudinally extendingv rod 32 about which the lower edge 3 3 of the parting strip 30 is curled. The rod and curled flange 33 provide a formation upon the parting strip which is capable of preventing relative vertical movement of the adjacent concrete sections.

Referring to Fig. 8, the preferred embodiment illustrated in this figure comprises a parting strip 33 having a laterally projecting liange 341 for locating the joint protector 15 and having a plurality of o ppositely extending loops 35, 36 for supporting a doweling means 3T. The loops 35 and 36 may be formed by providing transverse slits 38 at regularly spaced intervals and bending the metal outward in opposite directionson each side of the slit to a shapecapable of receiving lthe doweling member 37.-

The doiveling member 37 preferably comprises a steel bar or plate having upper and lower plane surfaces capable of being slidably received in the complementary recess formed in the concrete sections 10 and 11 and the doiveling member 3T is threaded through the loops and 36. The parting strip 33 of this embodiment is also supported upon the stirrup 20 and it should be noted that in each of the embodiments, the stirrup 2O permits the location of the parting strip atany of a plurality of positions. F or instance, the stirrup 20 may be driven in any of a number of diii'erent positions with its upper portion still in place to support the parting strip 33 at the desired location, and no difliculty lis experienced in locating the parting strip at the desired location Where stony ground is encountered. i

lt will thus be observed that I have invented a joint protector whichl is capable of use as a tratlic marker, and which is adapted to protect the upper and adjacent corners of the concrete pavement in such manner that practically no maintenance expense is involved. The present trallic marker may be constructed of non-corrodable metal if desired, but Where suiicient traffic is encountered, the trattic markers will be kept in smooth and polished condition by the traiiic itself, and the contra-st between the smooth metal surface and the dimmer pavement is vsuiiieient under anyj light or weather conditions to render the marker plainly visible.

The improved form of concrete joint shown in the preferred embodiment is also capable of preventing any relative settlin between the adjacent concrete sections, and t e present construction may be installed with a minimum cost of material andKlabor.

While 'I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made Without de arting from the spirit of the invention, and do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself out of saidv metal member for securing the i same to veach of said sections, said flexible portion comprising a downwardly extending longitudinal rib of tapering width formed in said metal member.,

2. In a concrete pavement joint, the combination of a -pair of pavement'sections with a division member comprising a metal strip between said sections, and a joint protector carried by said sections' above said division' member, said jointprotector comprising a sheet metal member having a longitudinally extending flexible portion and having down- Wardly turned border flanges for engaging in the pavement.

3. In a concrete pavement joint, the combination of a pair of pavement sections with a v 'division member comprising a metal xstrip between said sections, and a joint protector carried by said'sections above said division membersaid joint protector comprising a said flexible portion comprising a downwardly extendin longitudinal riboi tapering width forme in said metal member.

5. A division plate for concrete pavement sections comprising a strip of sheet metal having a plurality of oppositely bent loops formed in the same and an align-ing member threaded through said loops.4

6. A division plate for concrete pavement sections comprising' a strip of sheet metal having a plurality of oppositely bent loops formed in the same' and an aligning member threaded through said loops, said aligning member comprising a metal bar having upper and lower plane sides for slidably engaging in adjacent pavement sections. n

'7. A division plate for concrete pavement sections comprisingan elongated metal strip having one edge curved about a reinforcing rod for provi ing an aligning member for adjacent concrete sections.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe y my name this 3 day of June, 1929.

. CLIFFORD OLDER.

` sheet metal member having a longitudinally extending flexible portion and having downwardly turned border'flanges for engaging in the pavement, and integral anchoring formations formed outl of'sa'id metal'member y for securing thefsarne l'to each ofsaid sections.

' 4. In a. concretepavement joint, the combination ofa pair of pavement' sections with a division member comprising a 'metal strip between said sections', and ajoint protector carried by said sections above said division member, said joint protector comprising a sheet metal member having a longitudinally l extending fiexibleportion and having down- 'I ywardly turned border yfianges for engaging' in the pavement, and integral anchoring formations formed out of said-metal member for j securing the'same to each of said sections, 

